Hinged lid automatic box



March 20, 1951 s, BERGSTElN 2,545,802

HINGED LID AUTOMATIC BOXA Filed 001'.. 8, 1945 FIG. lBY Mb( ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 20, 1951 HINGED LID AUTOMATIC BOX Samuel Bergstein, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to Robert .Morris Ylergstein. and. Frank David Bergstein, trustees Application October 8, 1945, Serial No. `621,033

' 5 claims.' (c1. 2294-31) In my pending application entitled Boxes for Frozen Foods and Like Uses, Serial No. 596,538 led May 29, 1945, now abandoned, I have disclosed certain types of automatic one-piece boxes, particularly adapted for frozen foods, but useful also for other purposes. My present invention is ,directed to certain improvements, particularly in the type of box shown in the said co-pending application in Figs. 7 through 12.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a one-piece box in which, when the box is erected,` the bottom will stand .fully open under varying Vconveying and handling conditions,.so as to provide the most effective and efcient condition forfilling. It is a further object of my invention to provide means for the positive retention of the cover of the lled box, when it is placed in closed position, automatically, so that it will not spring open under subsequent handling and shipping conditions, but at the same time can be readily opened by a positive raising action when desired. It is a further object of the invention to provide these features in a box construction which has a liquid-tight bottom,

making it particularly adaptable for frozen foods and the like. These and other objects of my invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, I attain by that construction and arrangement of parts of which I shall now describe an exemplary embodiment. Reference is made to the drawings forming part of this specifcation, and in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of a blank for my improved box.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 show in plan successive stages in the folding and gluing of the box.

.Y Fig. 5k is an isometric view indicating the box being opened as by a pair of hands, indicating how the flanges can be folded back and out as part ofthe simultaneous motion of raising the two side Walls.

Fig. 6 is an isometric View of the box after being ,so opened, the flanges being folded outwardly and serving thereby to retain the bottom portion o f thebox in opened position.

Fig. '7` is an isometric View showing the lid in partially 'y closed position, indicating how the action of bringing down the lid serves to continue the downward and outward folding of the flanges. "Fig 8 is an end-elevational view of the closed container showing flanges and the cut-away portions of the corner glued tabs of the lid, to provide a positive automatic interlock when the lid is' in fully-closed position. A' v-Fig. 9-is asectionv along line 9 94 of Figure 8.

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Referring to Figure l, I have shown a blank, cut and scored to present a front wall I, a bottom panel 2, a back wall 3, a top panel 4 and a top front wall 5, articulated together by the usual score lines indicated by dot-dash lines in the drawing. At the ends of the bottom panel 2, end walls 6 and 'I are articulated. Webs 8, 9, I0 and II join and are articulated to the front, back and end walls; and these Webs are provided with diagonal score lines as shown. Top end walls I2 and I3 yare articulated to the ends of the top panel and are provided with .diagonal score linesi and I9 demarking triangular tabs. The top front wall 5 is provided with articulated end tabs IS and Il. The structure thus far described is similar to a structure shown in my said co-pending application.

Two essential modifications of structure appear in vFigure 1, however, flaps 2li and 2| have been articulated to the outeredges of the end walls 6 and 'I. cut back as indicated at 22 and 23. 1lhe effective depth of these cut-backs is made equivalent to the effective depth of the naps 2| and 22. Moreover, they are so formed as to avoid that portion of the flaps I5 and I1, which in the final form of the box will overlie and be secured to the triangular tabs on the top end walls I2 and I3 (note the shaded areas on flaps I6 and I'I in Figure 2). This will require that the forward ends of the flaps 2l) and 2i be spaced slightly inwardly from the ends of the end walls 6 and 1 as shown; and the forward ends of flaps 20 and 2! will preferably be shaped to conform to the shape oi the cut-backs 22 and 23.

The order of the steps in forming the nished', knocked-down box, and the mechanism by which these steps are accomplished, are not limitations upon the present invention. It will be suilicient for an understanding of my structure to point out that if the end walls 6 and "I, the webs 8, 9, IE) and II, the top` end walls I2 and I3 and the tabs I5 and I'I are all brought to an infolded position, as shown in Figure 2, with the triangular tabs of the top end walls folded along their diagonal score lines so as to overlie the top end walls, glue may be spotted upon the webs 8, 9,

f Ill and II and upon the tabs i6 and I? as indi- Also, the tabs I6 and I'I have been 'sult of this folding will be to bring about the adhesion of the adhesive coated portions of webs 8 and ii to the end walls 6 and l respectively, and also that the adhesive coated portions of tabs I6 and Il are attached to the triangular tabs on the top end walls l2 and i3.

Next the blank may be folded on the score line between the bottom panel 2 and the back wall 3, bringing the structure tothe completed', knockeddown condition shown in Figure l, and resulting in the attachment of the adhesive coated portions of 'webs 9 and IB to the end walls G and 'i respectively. Pressure is, of course, applied until the adhesive has set.

Fig. 5 is an isometric View of the box so formed, in its initial stage of being opened for use, by a pair of hands as shown in the drawing. As can be seen, as part of the same motion of raising the two end walls 5 and the flaps 29 and E ii can be. folded or brushed outwardly, with no extra time or labor. It will be noted that when the end` walls areraised, the webs 8, S, IB and li fold bellowswise on their diagonal score lines, with the bel-- lows` fold lying outside the end walls.

Fig. 6 showsY the box in condition for filling.

The iaps and 2 lV have been folded outwardly, and overlying the bellows folds, help retain the end walls; in erect position, to give the widest possible opening area for ready and convenient filling. This gure also shows the lid portion in partially erected condition.

Fig. 7 shows the lid which has now been fully opened bylifting the'top end walls, being brought dow-n into the position over the body of the. box. This will normally be done after the contents have' been placed therein. The ngure indicates how the outward and downward folding of the flaps 23- and 2l is continued by the mere action of bringing the lid down, with no further manipulation or operation required.

Fig. 8 is an end View of the closedA box, showing the iiap 2l and the tab H in dotted lines, and indicating how the flap inter-locks with the recessed or cut back portion of the tab. Figure 9,

which is aV p-artial cross section of the end of the' box illustrates the abutment of the edges of the ap 2| and theA tab I7. It will be understood that the saine` action occurs between flap 2t andI tab l@ at the other end of the box.

This action, which I have called inter-locking retains` the box in closed condition which is` of distinct advantage not only from the standpoint of appearance but also in handling, stacking, freezing, storing and shipping. It is also of importance when the boxesY are to be wrapped as part of the packaging process, facilitating the operation of wrapping devices.

When itA is desired to open the box, a positive pull of lifting motion on the lid or top causes theV flanges to give upwardly, so that, while the lid' is held-positively against springing open accidently through the jolts' that may occur in ordinary handling and shipping conditions, it can read-ily enough be opened by a deliberate lift whenever desired. Furthermore, should it be desired to reusey the box, as, for example, after having used part of the contents, it is possible, by bringing the lid down into closed position again, to cause reengagement between the anges and the recessed portions of the corner flaps of the lid, again securing itin closed position.

The advantages of my invention will be readily apparent. From the description it is obvious that these advantages are provided with no extra manufacturing operations, as compared to the folding and gluing of a box that does not provide them. Furthermore, there is no extra labor or time required on the part of the user or packer of the box. As has been previously explained, the flanges are readily folded outwardly, or partially outwardly, along their line of articulation, as a continuation of the same motion required to raise the sidewalls of tliev bottom. And to close the box there is no further manipulation required nor any time-consuming hand-locking, and the like. The mere act of bringing the open lid. down. into closed position serves to continue the folding backwardly or outwardly of the flaps; and when the lid. is nally in its fully closed position, the engagement between the edge of the flap and the cutaway portions of the front wall tabof the lidoccurs automatically, Also as noted previously, the folded out flaps serve the further purpose of helping retain the bottom of the box in its fully opened condition, thereby simplifying the filling operation..

As in the case' of my co-pending application previously referred to, the present construction is particularly adaptedI to the packaging of frozen foods, although its utility, of course, is not con.- iin'ed thereto. Thev interior of the box may be readilytreated with a proofing substance, Suchasalwax or a wax-like mixture, and. still the. knock.- down box may be securely glued because the adhesive unions between parts of the bottom is between outer` surfaces of the blank. The scored, bellows-folded arrangement ofthe bottom part-of. thebox is suchV that when the'interior of the blank is properly treated with a proofing substance',` it is liquid-tight. Accordingly when. the box` is inA itsy normal position, as duringv a freezing operation, the juices or uids are retained' without leakage in the contents, which is an important advantage;

It will be understood that my boxes may bei varied as to both size and shape. The terms used herein and in the claims which follow, such. as end walls, front and back walls and the' like; have been adopted as a matter of convenient terminology to distinguish walls from eachother, but do not imply matters of relative dimension.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the -art that modications in my' invention may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as disclosed. Hence, having described my invention in an exemplary embodiment, what Iv claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l'. A knock-down, one piece box having a bottorn portion with front, bottom,. back and end walls, said front, backy and end walls being connected by bellows folding corner webs, portions of said. webs being connected to outer sides of said' end walls, and an articulated lid portion having top, front and end walls, the bottom portion end walls having flaps articulated to their upper edges and foldable outwardly and downwardly over said folded webs, the top portion having tabs articulated to its front wall whereby said front wall is secured to adjacent side walls of said top portion, said. tabs. having their upper edges recessedl so as to come into interlocking relationship with said flaps.

2. A knock-down, hinged lid box having front', back and end walls folded inwardly over a bottom panel, said walls being connected by bellowsfolding corner webs, portions of said webs beingv connected to outer sidesV of said. end walls, said end walls having flaps articulatedto their. edges and. adapted,` when folded; outwardly.-4andv downwardly, to overlie said folded webs, said box having frontand end walls folded inwardly over a top panel, corner tabs of the infolded front wall of the lid being secured to reversely folded triangular portions of said lid end walls, said corner tabs being recessed to interlock with said naps when said box is in erected and closed condition.

3. A one-piece knock-down box having four bellows corners adhesively secured to two opposite side walls, said opposite side walls having flanges adapted to be folded out and over said bellows corners, a glued-corner lid having recessed corner flaps secured within the two opposite lid walls, said anges being adapted to be folded down by the closing of said lid and to be engaged within the recesses" in said lid corner flaps to hold said box securely in erect form and to prevent accidental release of said lid.

4. In a knock-down, hinged lid box, a box body having a bottom panel with front, back and end walls articulated thereto, with the",` ends of said front, back and end walls connected-by bellowsfolding corner webs, said bellows-'folding webs folded outside of said end walls at each end of said body with the innermost folded portions of said webs secured to the outer sides of said end walls, ap portions articulated to the top edges of said end walls and extending substantially the whole length of said walls and foldable outwardly and downwardly over said folded webs, and a box lid having a top panel articulated to the rear wall of said box body, a front wall and end wall articulated to said top panel, tabs on the ends of said lid front wall, with portions of said tabs secured to reversely folded triangular portions of said lid end walls, cut outs in the unsecured portions of said tabs corresponding to the forward ends of the folded over flap portions on the body end walls whereby said tabs and said naps may be interlocked when the box is in erected and closed condition.

5. A hinged lid box for frozen foods and the like comprising a front wall, a bottom wall, a back wall, a top wall and a cover front wall in articulation in the order named, end walls articulated to the ends of the bottom wall, cover end walls articulated to the ends of the top Wall, corner connecting webs, diagonally scored, and articulated to the ends of the front, back and end walls and foldable outside said end Walls, means for connecting the cover front wall and the cover end walls in knock-down but erectable condition, said means comprising glue tabs articulated to said front cover wall and secured to triangular portions of said cover end walls demarked by diagonal score lines, and flaps articulated to the edges of said end walls and foldable outwardly and downwardly over said corner connecting webs, so as to be confined in such folded position by the lid of said box when in closed position, said glue tabs being recessed to come into interlocking engagement with said flaps upon closing the lid of said box.

SAMUEL BERGSTEIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,694,126 Joslen Dec. 4, 1928 1,920,184 Brackett Aug. 1, 1933 2,021,980 Bachmeyer Nov, 26, 1935 .2,073,272 Wellman Mar. 9, 1937 2,160,643 Burel May 30, 1939 2,316,701 Marshall Apr. 13, 1943 2,369,385 Carruth et al. Feb. 13, 1945 2,428,845 Guyer Oct. 14, 1947 

